The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

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Morning arrived with Sunny’s excited barking and the smell of coffee. Mrs. Hughes had made breakfast-eggs Benedict and fresh fruit-arranged artfully on the dining table. My phone displayed three missed calls from Olivia and a text: [What happened at the

Wells mansion last night? Call me!]

I texted back a quick Nothing worth discussing and headed to work, grateful to escape into the familiar routine of Four Seasons

Florals.

The shop was already bustling when I arrived. Rachel, one of my junior florists, was arranging a display of orchids while gossiping

with Mia, our new receptionist, instead of processing the morning’s delivery orders.

“Did you see this?” Rachel thrust the Boston Business Journal toward Mia. The headline read: “INSIDER REPORT: JONATHAN

TO STEP DOWN AS WELLS INVESTMENT BANK CHAIRMAN, DEREK’S QUIET RETURN SIGNALS POWER PLAY?*

WELLS

‘Ladies, I called out, setting down my bag and removing my coat. “Those orchids won’t arrange themselves, and we have three

corporate deliveries waiting to be processed.”

“Sorry,” Mia replied, quickly returning to her desk.

Rachel, however, couldn’t contain herself. “Just one second-I was telling Mia that I saw Derek Wells once. He’s even more handsome

in person than in photographs.”

She pulled out her phone and scrolled through images. “Look, I saved these from a society page. This was at his wedding.”

I tensed as she displayed a photo of Derek in a tuxedo, standing beside a bride whose face was partially obscured. My face.

“The bride looks a bit like you from this angle, observed Mia, peering over Rachel’s shoulder.

Rachel looked up at me, then back at the photo. “Huh. You’re right. Same hair color.”

I straightened my shoulders and adopted my most professional tone. “This is a workplace, not a gossip column. Rachel, please finish the Blackwell order, and Mia, the Taylor wedding consultation arrives in twenty minutes. Their portfolio needs to be ready.”

“But wait, Rachel persisted, ‘do you actually know the Wells family? The resemblance is uncanny.”

“What I know,” I said firmly, “is that we have customers waiting. Whatever Mr. Wells does with his life is none of our business,

especially during working hours.”

“So you do know him?’ Rachel pressed.

I fixed her with a stern look. “What I know is that you’re on the clock, Rachel. The discussion is over.”

Finally taking the hint, both women returned to their tasks, though I caught them exchanging curious glances when they thought I

wasn’t looking.

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Chapter 10

A week passed without a word from Derek. He hadn’t returned to the apartment since the night at the Wells mansion. Each evening. I told myself this silence only confirmed what I already knew-waiting two more months for our agreed divorce date was pointless. It was time to end this charade.

I picked up my phone and dialed his office.

“Derek Wells’s office, a polished male voice answered.

“This is Eleanor Wells. I need to speak with Derek.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Wells. Mr. Wells is in an important meeting at the moment. May I take a message?”

I gripped the phone tighter. “I need to discuss finalizing our divorce. When will he be available?”

“His schedule is quite packed today, I’m afraid. Perhaps tomorrow-

“Then you can give him a message,” I interrupted, frustration breaking through my usual composure. “Tell him that with his

workaholic tendencies, he should be careful not to work himself to death.”

A pause. “Mrs. Wells, I-

“And before that happens, I continued, “tell him to call me back.”

I hung up, dropping the phone onto my desk. What was I doing? I’d spent years loving a man who couldn’t even bother to call. It

was time to stop waiting, stop hoping. Time to reclaim my dignity and my life.

Comments

R Visitor

2 Comments >

Girl you are so pathetic I just want you to toughen up for when the horrible time comes for you to walk away but sighhhhh…

7 days ago

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love